Suit blames companies for communities' water contamination

PARCHMENT, Mich. (AP) - A federal lawsuit blames two companies for high amounts of toxic industrial chemicals that were found in drinking water of two southwestern Michigan communities over the summer. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports Detroit firm Liddle & Dubin sued last Thursday in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids on behalf of three Parchment residents. It's seeking class-action status and calls for financial compensation and funding to evaluate the health of area residents. Georgia-Pacific says there's no direct link. 3M says it's acted responsibly. Health officials in July had warned the some 3,000 people who use the Parchment water system to stop drinking tap water. The water source was switched, and they said in late August that tests in Parchment and Cooper Township found acceptable levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. Published: Mon, Nov 05, 2018